Package elevator



April 3, 1928. 1,664,912

J. L. BALDWIN PACKAGE ELEVATOR Filed Nov. 8. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l gnaw/w! 01, J- L. 3/71. DWI

April 3, 1928.

J. L. BALDWIN PACKAGE ELEVATOR Filed Nov. 8. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IL. BaLD/Mm April 3, 1928.

J. L. BALDWIN PACKAGE ELEVATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 9m v Q1 0 I m! o I l N .il 1 1 I E t H 3 1542 h 5&-

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61km new April 3, 1928. 1,664,912

J. L. BALDWIN PACKAGE ELEVATOR Filed Nov. 8. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I gnoewtoz 7 1L. BHLDWIN) a 7:

A W w i Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UN I-X' I' T TE J s. BALDWIN, Q CHICAGO? mura PACKAGE ELEVATOR.

Application filed November 8, 1926, Serial No, 147,072;

This invention. relates to package. elevators and carriers especially adapted for use in stores, factories and othcrstructures.

Briefly stated, an important object of this invention is to provide a package carrier which is entirely mechanical except for the motive source and in which the necessity of remote control switches for the electric motor and the wiring incident to. the employ- .ment ofrremote controlswitches are avoided.

A further and equally important objectv is to provide a package carrier having novel means whereby the simultaneous operation of the same from the various stations is made an impossibility. and in which the carrier may be controlled from any station and caused to stop at the proper stations.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the. accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 isa perspective viewillustrating the control and supporting means for the carrier;

Figure 2 is a side. elevation of thestructure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure. 4 is a perspective view of a carrier and the'sup porting means therefor;

Fi ure 5 is an elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus;

Figures 6 is a detail elevation, of the motor-switch operating unit as assembled;

' Figure 7 is a perspective view of an elevator shaft and the various closures there- Figure 8 is a plan view of-an automatic door closure embodied in the invention and by means ofwhich the attempted operation of the elevator. by morethan one person is prevented.

In the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a table mounted on legs 6. Figure 1 clearly illustrates that a pair of-standards or'guide rods 7 are secured to the table by suitable means and as is obvious extend upwardly to the fioors or. stations to which service is to be provided.

Referring nowito. F-iguref4, it will be seen that the standards. 7 are 'engaged'by guide roller carried by brackets 9, the brackets being. secured to, the elevator or movable receptacle 1.0. The brackets9 are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the receptaclell) and. provide means whereby. the receptacle is. permitted; to partake of, an easy vertical movement under the influence of? gravity andia lifting mechanism consi-stingof a. continuous chain 14. r

The chain 14 is. trained. aboutan overhead support and has connection with. a centrifugal clutch 16' by which poweris transmitted from. an electric motor, 18. to. the chain.

More specifically, the electric motor drives a counter shaft 20 upon which the centrifugal-clutch 16 is operated. The. centrifugal clutch 16 is of a type which brings about the gradual driving engagement between the motor andthe chain and in fact the driving connection between these parts is not completed until the motor attains a predetermined speed. Since the: specific construction of the clutch forms no part of this invention, it. hasnot been illustrated in detail, but it might be added that'the clutch. may be of the type illustrated inmy copending application Serial No. 3,470, filed Jan. 19, 1925. It will be seen that when the motor 18 is energized theacontinuous chain 14-will be operated-toraisethe receptacle 10..- Figure 4 illustrates that the chain is connected to the'receptacle 10 by a pair. of.arins;22. The arms 22- extend horizontally from the receptacle and have connection in any. preferred manner withthe chain. That part of: the chain between the upper. andlower arms 22 is preferably taut.

Further referenceto Figure 4. will show that a rod or. other support 30 isconnected to. and is extended between the upper and lowerv arms. 22 and carries-a pair of attaching sleeves 32up'onv which stop dogs 34 are pivotally mounted. Thestop. dogs. 34; areurged outwardly to operative position by. coil springs 36 so that when the same are engaged with one of a series of laterally projecting'cranks 40 on a control rod 41, the receptacle or. carriage. 10- will be brought to a halt,

In furtherexpla-iningthe relation between the dogs 34 and the-crank 40, it might be saidthatthe outer surfacesofthe dogs. 34 are curved inwardly toward their attaching portions todefine cam surface-s against whic one of the cranks 40 may be, engaged; to

push. one ofthe do s inwardlv, ire crater b .v/ p y to the entrance of the crank into the space between the dogs. Figure t clearly illustrates that when the carriage approaches one of the cranks 40 the dog 34 nearestthereto will be moved inwardly and the other dog will be employed as a retainer by which the carriage is brought to a halt.

Attention is directed to the fact that the sleeves 32 are backed by coil springs as mounted ontherods and forming cush ions for use when the carriage is brought to a halt.

One of the cranks or stops' iO is located at or adjacent each station and'if it is desired to bring the carriage to a halt atone of the floors, possibly thesecondfloor, the crank or stop 40 at the second floor is positioned so that it is in the path of travel of a longi- "tudinally curved leai springcam carried by one of the sleeves Thus when the carr age approaches the floor at which it is tostop'the leaf spring cam 50 engages the crank 40 and inioves the same laterally a limited distance fora purpose to be hereinafter descrlbed and forthe obvious purpose of properly presenting the same to the cam surface of the dog 3a nearest the crank.

motor and to the means for causing the earrlage to stop at the required floor or stat1on,

attention is invited to Figures 1, 2 and 3,

particularly Figure 1 whichillustrates that a collar may be rigidly mounted on the control rod ll and is provided with a radial extension 62 having a pivoteddog 64.

Reference to Figure 1 will clearly show that the dog 6ais adapted to cooperat'e with a series of lugs 66 on a switch operating member in the nature of a loose collar having a radial arm 68. One side edge of the radial arm 68 is beveled to define cam adapted to press a roller 70 into one of the depressions 7 2 of a. disk shaped member 74 rigidly secured to and movable with the rod 41. The depressions 72correspond in number to the number of stations and to the number of lugs 66, and the arrangement is such'when one of the cranks 40 is positioned bracket 82 and is provided with a depending branch 84, the lower terminal of which has connection with the toggle arms 86 f an electric switch 87. V a a Thus when. the roller 70 is forced down into one of the depressions 72 by the cam like arm 68 the bell crank will be operated to turnv on theswitch. As long as the roller 70 is held in one of the depressions 72 the motor will continue to operate and raise the carriage- As suggested, this action is induced bythe' movement of the rod ll-in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6-through the agency of the dog 64 in bearing against one of the lugs 66 with which the cam arm 68 is integral, For purposes of clearness, the latter has been shown remote from the roller 70 in Figures 1,2 and 3, but its true position is shown in cut off, and finely dotted lines when it is turned on. It should-now be borne in mind that the rod 41 carriesboth'the collar 60 and the disk-shaped member 74 rigidly thereon, and that the dog 64 has a predeter niinedposition in relation to the depression 1 72 opposite it. lVith this position noted, it

will be seen that with the depressions 72 spaced by degreesas the collar lugs 66, the relation between the dog and any further depression will be in equal multiple. As to the roller 70, its position may be considered fixed, except for its short vertical movement, since its connectionby arm to standard 82 makes it a stationary element, laterally considered.

Therefore, when the rod 4:1 is turned in the direction of the arrow (Figs. 1 and 6), it will carry the dog 64: so as to bear against the next log 66 in its path. This movement will push along the arm 68 and cause the roller 70 to be dis placedin adownward direction into the depression 72 below, so that the actuation of the switch is accomplished, the parts appearing as per finely dotted lines in Figure'ti.

Since the depressions 7 2 are spaced as the lugs 66, according to previous mention, it willbe seen that whatever the location of the dog 64; in the rotary travel of the rod 41, its impulse in the direction described will at:-

complish the closing of the switch. The

rod 41 may be turned in the opposite direction without affecting the dog 64L. as the latter will then slip the lugs66. The reverse motion of the rod 41 will, however, effect the opening of theswitch, by causing the rear wallet the depression 72 to impinge on the roller 70 in the manner of a cam and crowd the same back into elevated position. In order that this motion may not push the arm 68 away tronia positionhandy to the roller 70, the said arm is extended with a guard flange 91 over therollcr which prevents its separation therefrom. Also, the arm 68 is extended radially with a'depending flange'92 which strikes the end of the bell crank i1 inseam branch 80and stops the arm when the stroke ofthelatter in working directionis forced or sudden.

It is now evident that the rodli may be turned in the tree direction to properly position the crank corresponding to.a.selecte ed station, this consisting inthe location of the same in the path of travel of the leaf cam 5Q." A- shorttwist or turn of the rod in theworking direction (see arrows) will now setthe motor in motionto elevatethe carriage. Thus whenthe carriage approaches the station at which it is-to stop theleat cam -will -engage the crank 40 and turn thea'od back sons to again open the switch stopping the motor. The; carriage 10, of course has suflici-ent upward inertia to continue itsupward movement until member 10 engages dogs 34. Thus no further movement will be imparted-to the carriage until the. apparatus is again set;

The='rod 41 may have a pinion 94 at each station and each pinion is engaged by a sec ond pinion 96 onan adjusting shaft 98. Figure Sillustrates that the shaft 98 may be provided with a selector wheel 100 which may be manually operated to position the particular crank 10 corresponding to the station desired at one of the stations in the pathof travel aifected by the leaf cam 50.

In carrying out the invention the table 5 may. be provided with a suitable number. of cushioning elements consisting of rods 110 upon which cushioning and rebound springs 112 'and-114, respectively, are mounted. Of course, the cushioning springs 112are mounted above the table and the rebound springs which are somewhat weaker than the cushioningsprings are mounted below the table.

The carriage has connection with a sprocket chain 118 clearly shown in Figure 1, for-attachment of a counter balancing weight (not shown) so that the motor is relieved of t-henecessity of lifting the entire weight of the carriage and the contents of the same. It is preferred to have the carriage slightly heavier than'the counter balancing weight, so that the descent of the carriage when empty isassured 'A suit-able governor friction de vice or bralte 119 may be employed to retard the descent of the carriage. When'the carriage is descending to a desired floor or station themotor need not be operated.

The attempted simultaneous operation of of the elevator by persons at different stations is prevented by the provision of the structure illustrated 'in Figures 7 and 8. wherein it. is shown that av shaft or casing 120 encloses-the carriage and associated parts and provided with a plurality of doors 124; by means of which access to the carriage is made possible. Referring to Figure 8, it willbe seen that each door 124 is provided with an inwardly extending bracket or arm "126, th'eterminal of whichhas a shoulder or head 128 adaptedl to be. engaged bythe branches 130 and 132 of a bellcrank rigidly secured onIa shaft 140 extendingforthe full lengthot the station's.

Whenone otthe doors 124c is opened the head 128 will engage the branch 130 so that the shaft 140 is turned in a counter clockwise direction and the branches "132 at the other stations positioned in retaining engagement with the lugs 128 so that the other doorsare held against. opening. In thislatter positiQn the branches 130 restragainst stops 130 thus holding branches 132Yat right-angles to the shouldered door-carried arms 126 Ob: viously when one door 124 hasbeen opened the engagement of the headed arm ends 28 oi the other doors will engage their respective branches132 and the doors? will beheld shut.

' When the door previously opened; is closed the head 12.8 engages arm. 130,; and swings. the same clockwise and connecting rod 1&0 is automatically returned to a position which will. permit the opening Pot any one of the other doors.

Having thusdescribed theinvention, what is claimed is: I, I

1. An elevator comprising a support a carriage slidably connected to the support, dogs mounted on said carriage, a movable stop adapted to be positioned between said dogs, and acam adapted to turn said stop and position the same in the path oftravel of one of-said dogs, each of; said dogs being provided witha camsurface in the path of travel of said stop. 2. An elevator comprising. a support, a carriage slidably connected, to thesuppor, dogs carried by said carriage, a movable stop adaptedtobe positioned between said dogs, acam adapted toturn said stop and position thesame in thepath. of travel of one of said dogs, each of said dogs being provided with acam surface in the path of travel of saidstop, anda power element having connection with said carriage.

8. An elevatorcomprising a. support, a carriage slidably connected to the support, dogs carried by said carriage, a movable stop adapted to be positioned betweenv said dogs, a cam adapted toturn said stop and position the same in the path of. travel of one of said dogs, each of saiddogs being provided with a camsur facei n the path of travel of said stop, a power element having connection with said carriage, and means connecting said power element and said stop.

4. .An elevator comprising asupport, a carriage slidably connected to the support,

arms carried by the-carriage dogsbetween said. arms, a movablestop adapted to bepositioned between said-dogs, a camadapted to turn said stop and;position thev samein the path of travel of one of; said dogs, each of said dogs being provided with a cam surface in the path of travelofsaid stop, a power ting member connected to said carriage,

control means for said motor, and a control rod supporting said stop member and having connection with said motor. l

6. An elevator includingv a carriage, a control rod having stops for engaging and hold ing said carriage, a motor having a power transmitting element for operating said can riage and a switch, a switch controlling device, ayplate having connection with said rod with seating means to hold said switch controlling device inan extreme position.

7. An elevator including a carriage, a control rod having stops for engaging and holding said carriage, a motor having a power transmitting element for said carriage and a switch, a switch controlling device, a member having rigid connection with said rod with seating means to hold said switch controlling device in one position.

and cams to urge said switch controlling device to another position.

8. An elevator comprising a control rod having a stop, a radial arm mounted on said rod and having a cam surface, a member rigid with'said rod and having depressions, a switch controlling device adapted tobe received in one of said depressions, the cam surface of said radial arm being adapted to urge said switch controlling device into one of said depressions and temporarily hold the sametherein.

9. An elevator comprising a control rod having a stop, a radial arm mounted on.

said rod and having a cam surface, a member rigidwith said rod and having depressions, a switch controlling device adapted to be received in one of said depressions, the cam surface of said radial arm being adapt edtourge said switch controlling device into one of said depressions and temporarily holdthe same therein, and a carriage having means adapted tobeengaged by said stop.

10. An elevator comprising a control rod having a stop, a radial armmounted on said rod and having a cam surface, a member rigid with said rod and having depressions, a switch controlling deviceadapted to be received in oneof said depressions, the cam surface of said radial arm being adapted to urge said switch controlling device into one of said depressions and temporarily hold the same therein, a carriage having means adapted to'be engaged by said-stop, and means on said control rod for impelling said radial arm. i r v i i 11. An elevator comprising a carriage, a control rod having a stop adapted tocooperate with the carriage, a motor having a power transmitting member connected to said carriage, apswitch for said motor, a switch controlling device consisting of'a bell crank, one branch of which isconnected to said switch, the other branch of the bell crank being adjacent to said rod, and a cam operated by said rod and adapted to'urge the second named branch of the bell cran to a position to close said switch.

12. An elevator comprisin a carriage, a control rod having a stop a apted to cooperate with the carriage, a motor having ,a power ltransmitting member connected to said carriage. a switch forsaid motor, a switch controlling device consisting of a bell crank, one branch of which is connected to said switch, the other branch of thejbell crank being adjacent to said rod, a camoperated by said rod and adapted to urge the second. named branch-of the bell crank to a position 'to close said switch, and a mem# ber mounted ons'aid rod and having means to receive a portion of the secondnamed branch of said bellcrank.

' 13. An elevator comprising aicarriage, a

motor having a power transmittingmember for said carriage, said motor also being provided with a switch, acontrol rod havlnga plurality of stops arranged at various point?i holdingmeans carried by the carriage an adapted to be engaged by said stops, a switch controlling device associated with said rod, and means carried by said carriage to engage the stop and turnthe rod'to actuate said switch control device when the carriage reaches a predetermined point.

14. A control for an oscillatory switch lever comprising a rod a uni-directional impeller carried by the latter, a collar loose on the rod and having abutments selectivel engageable by the impeller whenrthe rod 1s turned to correspond, a radial arm integral with the collar and adapted to depress the switch lever on the occasion'of an impulse, and a member rigid on the rod and having a cam to raise the switch lever when the movementof the rodis reversed.

15. A control for an oscillatory switch lever comprising a rod, a uni-directional impeller carried by the latter, a collar loose on the rod and having a circumferential series" the occasion of an impulse, and a member, p,

rigid on the rod and having a circumferential series of cams corresponding in number to the said abutments, that cam which is nearest the switch lever serving toraise the latter when the movement of the rod is reversed.

16. A control for an oscillatory switch lever comprising a rod, a uni-directional impeller carried by the latter, a collar loose on the rod and having abutments selectively engageable by the impeller when the rod is turned to correspond, a radial arm integral with the collar and adapted to depress the switch lever on the occasion of an impulse, and a member rigid on the rod and having a cam to raise the switch lever when the movement of the rod is reversed, said arm having an extension to retain it in proximity to the switch lever.

17. An elevator comprising a verticallyslidable carriage driven by a motor, said motor being provided with a switch, a control rod having a plurality of stops spaced along the rod as the stations intended for the carriage and also distributed circumferentially to correspond, dogs carried by the carriage and engageable by said stops, a cam carried by the carriage, to engage a given stop and move the same into the path of the dogs, such movement causing the rod to turn, an oscillatory lever for actuating the switch, a uni-directional impeller carried by the rod,

a collar loose on the rod and having a series of abutments corresponding to the numberof stops on the rod and selectively engageable by the impeller when the rod is turned to correspond, a radial arm integral with the collar and adapted to depress the switch lever on the occasion of an impulse, and a member rigid on the rod and having a circumferential series of cams corresponding in number to the said abutment-s, that cam which is nearest the switch lever serving to raise the latter when the movement of the rod is induced by the first mentioned cams in a direction reverse to that induced by the impeller.

18. An elevator comprising a support, a carriage slidably connected to the support, dogs mounted on said carriage and a movable stop adapted to be positioned bet-ween said dogs.

19. An elevator comprising a support, a. carriage slidably connected to the support, dogs mounted on said carriage,a movable stop adapted to be positioned between said dogs, and a cam adapted to turn said stop and position the same in the path of travel of one of said dogs.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

JAMES L. BALDWIN. 

